Air Asia expansion in PH seen slowing down

Philippines Air Asia said its hiring and business expansion could slow if oil prices would continue to increase.

The company, a unit of Malaysian budget carrier Air Asia Berhad, is seeking to further mitigate the rising cost of oil although it is not yet contemplating asking the government to allow it to impose a fuel surcharge as its rivals had done, CEO Dexter Comendador said in a recent interview.

In recent months, Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific Air sought the Civil Aeronautics Board’s approval to allow them to again include a fuel surcharge in the ticket price.

“If they are given [the go-signal], then we can follow,” Comendador said.